AT LAST Manchester United have found a new song for Europe. Three goals for the English champions in the first hour at Old Trafford last night, and a late fourth from Andy Cole, left Porto, the dark horses of the Champions' League, looking like riderless mounts in the opening leg of the quarter-finals.

Ryan Giggs was outstanding for United but it was, essentially, a solid all-round team performance.

Reluctant though Alex Ferguson might have been to carry a torch for the country's international footballing aspirations, last night's match still represented an opportunity to see the Premier League's standing in a new light.

Certainly Old Trafford required from its team the sort of performance to suggest that the old pre-Heysel dominance over European affairs might soon be restored. True, Fenerbahce and Juventus had already beaten United on their own ground but in the three months which had passed since Ferguson's team had ensured its place in the Champions League quarter-finals the players had shown immeasurably better form.

Porto, conquerors of Milan, offered a timely yardstick against which Manchester United's present ascendancy could be judged. But the absence of Roy, Keane, whose ankle injury had not healed in time, from United's midfield did not help their, cause.

Ronny Johnsen took Keane's place, with Eric, Cantona playing off Ole Solskjaer and Andy Cole as United sought the goals which would take them more than halfway to the last four. Not for the first time Porto left Jardel, their tall Brazilian striker, on the bench, whence he had sprung to score twice in Milan.

Last night Porto began with Edmilson and Drulovic giving them their width and Artur ploughing a lonely furrow through the middle. It took barely a tribute for United to be reminded of the opposition's pace on the counter attack.

Edmilson led the break, his cross was touched on, and only the alertness of Johnsen denied Artur a possible goal. After seven minutes, in fact a booking for a foul on David Beckham denied Artur, one of nine Porto players on yellow cards, an appearance in the second leg.

With Giggs tucked into midfield much-depended on the speed and accuracy with which United found Solskjaer and Cole in scoring positions. Some early corners and free kicks tested Hilario's supposed weakness on crosses but the young goalkeeper dealt competently enough with headers from David May and Gary Pallister.

Cole went closer with a dipping header, from Beckham's free kick, which Hilario saw late and just managed to tip over the bar. But for a poor low cross from Johnsen, who had been released by Giggs's impeccable through ball, Cole might have gone even closer minutes later.

Not that it mattered. After 21 minutes Beckham regained possession following a weak corner, Pallister nodded down his centre and May forced the ball in from close range. Almost immediately Antonio Oliveira, the Porto Foach, summoned Jardel to give himself an extra striker.

In reality Porto were in greater need of extra defenders, especially when dealing with anything in the air. The Portuguese champions uncertainty at the back was to cost them another goal before halftime.

In the 34th minute one of Peter Schmeichel's huge clearances was helped on by Solskjaer and Cole but there seemed little immediate danger as Aloisio had the ball covered. Aloisio, however, fluffed his clearance, which was blocked by Eric Cantona's knee. The Frenchman then turned smoothly to beat Hilario with something approaching disdain.

As Beckham rounded off a sharp piece of inter-passing early in the second half by shooting just wide of the far post Old Trafford savoured the prospect of more goals. For United, however, it was as important to stop Porto scoring as increase their lead. Artur gave way to the tiny Barros (5ft 2in) as Porto strove to disturb the command of May and Pallister more than they had done hitherto.

With Giggs and Beckham masters of the midfield, Manchester United still held the initiative, but they could ill afford to waste the sort of chance squandered by Cole, whose tame shot at Hilario was a poor reward for the move which had led to it.

Not that a third goal was far away. Right on the hour Cantona played a long pass up the touchline to Cole, who cut inside before switching the ball out to Giggs, who had sprinted into a gap to his left. Given a clear run at goal Giggs did not miss, beating Hilario at the near post.

Eleven minutes from the end Johnsen broke away with the ball and found Cantona who sent Cole through to score the fourth-goal which surely puts Manchester United into the semi-finals.